Thursday, September 18, 2014
Knights take down Reds
50 Cents Volume 116 Issue 37
By Michael Circle
Orchestra creates harmony
michael@theputnamstandard.com
Cabell Midland football improved to 3-0 for the season after gaining 560 yards of total offense compared to the Big Reds’ 164. Four of the Knights’ six touchdowns came on the run. Senior quarterback Coy Petitt threw nine times, completing 4-for-2 for two touchdowns to help Midland win, 42-12. “We’ve averaged two-three touchdowns thrown,” said Knights coach Luke Salmons. “He’s capable of throwing and throwing well.” Senior Alex Childers rushed 148 yards on 17 carries and found the end zone three times on the run. He also caught two passes from Petitt, one for a fourth touchdown. Seth Vickers also caught a Petitt pass, running 56 yards on his catch and finishing in the end zone. “They did good,” Salmons said. “They answered the call, they played hard, and they played well.” The Midland defense also posted a good night with four sacks and an interception by Devin Stapleton. Junior Reese Donahue met the quarterback face to face twice while bringing him down to the turf. Chris Camp played his defensive position strongly making eight tackles, the team high for the night, with five being unassisted. On special teams, Chris Heiner See Football, Page 6
By Amanda By Amand nda da Smythers Smyt Sm ythers hers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
T
he Barboursville Middle School strings program is not your everyday classical orchestra. While they may play the classic “Canon in D,” they will follow up with the rock version of the same song. While they may play “The Star Spangled Banner,” they also jam out to Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Yet this unusual repertoire, all
aarranged ar arr rrraang anggedd by by teacher teac te achher ac her Eric he Eri Er ric ic Akers, Ake kers, kers rs, rs coupled with a generous donation from the VH1 Save the Music program, has enabled Akers to take a one student program and turn it into a 140 student extravaganza. In just eight short years, Akers took what was once considered a dying program and made it work in Barboursville, teaching orchestra and guitar to hundreds of students. The best part? The students choose to take the class – there is no requirement for any student to be in Akers guitar or orchestral classes.
“I “In In si ssixth ixth xxtth gr ggrade, rade aad de, I w was as in in guitar guiitttaar gu ar and [Akers] was overloading with guitars,” said viola player Peyton Weekly, eighth grade. He said Akers talked to him about switching to orchestra, for which he is now grateful. “I kind of fell in love with the class.” This love is echoed throughout his students, many of whom convince others to join as well. “Most of the time, their older brothers and sisters have had me before,” Akers said. “It just starts spreading. It’s a three-year pro-
ggr gram ram m aand nd d ppeople eopl eo ple le can caan ch cho choose hoo oose osee tto o tak ta take ake ke what they want. We don’t have a set minimum number that they have to get, so they don’t force people to take the class.” This, Akers said, has created an environment where the students are happy to be there and excited to get to work. “They really seem to like it,” he said. “And by getting them things they like to play, you usually get kids who respect what they’re doing and enjoy doing it.” See Music, Page 7
WVU paints arts & music pictures for Midland youth By Amanda Smythers amanda@theputnamstandard.com
Cabell Midland Fine Arts Academy students received a special look into college level art classes when faculty from the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts presented specialized lectures to classes of each grade level. Starting with an academy-wide assembly in the auditorium, students were told that a college degree in the arts could take them
wherever they wanted to go. “There’s a connection between theater majors and law school,” said College of Creative Arts Dean Paul Kreider. “There’s a connection between music majors and medical school. When you’re in art school, if you’re going to be successful, you’re going to have discipline. And that’s what makes people successful in the business world.” Kreider said part of the reason he and his team of 10 faculty vis-
ited Midland was to encourage to students to look beyond Marshall for their arts education. “We want you to come experience our faculty, our students and our people,” he said. “We really want you to think about coming to WVU.” State Arts and History ComSee Arts, Page 7 Midland students Lucas Jacobs and Drake Workman share their animated images with each other.